Entertainment
Game of Thrones Meets Star Wars in HBO Max’s Near-Perfect Space Opera
There is a reason why, seven years after its divisive conclusion, Game of Thrones still holds viewers in a vice grip. Audiences will always return to Westeros, just as they return to a galaxy far, far away. Game of Thrones and Star Wars may seem as though they could not be further apart, but put them together, and fans get one of the greatest space operas put on the big screen.
Streaming on HBO Max, Denis Villeneuve’s two-part sci-fi series, Dune, is the perfect combination of some of the most recognizable franchises in modern entertainment. Like previous fare, Dune takes place in a fascinating world that is impossible to look away from. The characters of the space epic exist in the Galactic Imperium, an Empire that hinges on the success of spice production on the desert planet Arrakis. This is only the setup for one of the best space operas that became so influential that it is impossible not to see its fingerprints on everything that came after.
‘Dune’ Influenced Some of the Most Beloved Franchises
Dune feels like a perfect combination of Star Wars and Game of Thrones, particularly because without the Frank Herbert novel, there would be no Tatooine or Ned Stark. The impressive world-building of these epic franchises all started with the complexities of the Imperium and a futile power struggle that threw space into chaos.
The trouble begins when the charismatic and beloved Duke Leto Atreides (Oscar Isaac) of Caladan is tasked with taking ownership of Arrakis. The planet is instrumental, as the spice mélange allows the Spacing Guild to make calculations necessary for interstellar travel. Leto understands that this is a death sentence he can’t get away from. He is set up to fail by the Emperor and the Harkonnens, a setup similar to Ned Stark’s elevation to Hand of the King. Both men are idealistic and unable to stray from doing the right thing.
Their demises are inevitable and set off a war that there is no coming back from. Desert planets are a common occurrence in Star Wars, as is the discourse surrounding spice, which acts as a drug in George Lucas’ world. Denis Villeneuve’s recent saga honors the pages from Herbert’s novel and translates it into a modern cinematic masterpiece.
The best years of Star Wars and Game of Thrones have passed, but Dune represents the best of both worlds. It is even more complex in its thematic resonance and the depiction of its main character. There are certainly protagonists to root for in Dune, but Villeneuve’s films act as a cautionary tale that is more relevant than ever. Paul (Timothée Chalamet) heads to Arrakis with good intentions, and after his father’s death, he intends to help the Fremen win their planet back.
However, Herbert posits that charismatic leaders are often drawn to the worst parts of leadership. Though initially unintentional, Paul becomes the very thing that he had hoped to fight against. Star Wars and Game of Thrones operate on a certain level of optimism in comparison to this bleak outlook. The main character of Dune wins, but that in itself is a tragedy since the entire Imperium suffers because of it. Dune represents all the best parts of fans’ favorite franchises while telling the most important story of them all.
- Release Date
-
September 15, 2021
- Runtime
-
155 minutes
- Director
-
Denis Villeneuve
- Writers
-
Denis Villeneuve, Eric Roth, Jon Spaihts, Frank Herbert
- Producers
-
Herb Gains, John Harrison, Joseph M. Caracciolo Jr., Mary Parent, Richard P. Rubinstein, Cale Boyter, Thomas Tull, Brian Herbert, Byron Merritt, Kim Herbert, Joshua Grode
You must be logged in to post a comment Login